Kaplan & It’s Hidden Fees

    I just spent one term with Kaplan University Online. I did alright with a 3.0. But I have a complaint and a warning that I would pass on to any students looking to do their schooling. First of all, at the time of registration I was told to turn in a financial aid "Clearance Letter". I asked my recruiter and my financial aid rep both what is that and how do I get one. They first suggested that I try Sallie Mae and of course I followed their direction. The rep at Sallie Mae didn't know what I was talking about.

    I then reported to my financial aid rep what I found and they suggested that I ask the Department of Education. I did what was suggested and the first time I called a person told me that they didn't know what I was talking about. I tried again a few days later and a different rep at Dept of Ed told me, "Sure, I'll mail one out to you!" It never came in the mail. I told this to my financial aid officer and they told me that my financial aid doesn't cover everything and to pay $808 dollars. Also, according to their records my old school was holding onto $1000 that they didn't pay back to the Department of Ed. She said that could be a possible reason for my letter. I asked her if I should get the money and pay Kaplan or the Department of Education. She told me to pay Kaplan and I will not have any overage issues. I got the money and paid them.

    By early November, I was receiving calls from the Kaplan Document Collections Department harassing me to give them the "Clearance Letter" Or they will just keep calling. It took me a few weeks to figure out that they were using an "auto-dialer" when I got off of the phone from the Document Collections and received a second call five minutes later from the same department. A rep read an impersonal script at me and I told them, "Nothing has changed in five minutes." Since two weeks ago I have received 3-5 calls per day from the Kaplan Document Collections Department, all this time I told them that none of my lenders know what they are talking about and that I need additional help from the school to get this issue resolved. Their response to me was, "just give us the document or we will block you!"

    Last week, I logged in to start getting prepared for my second term and of course I am blocked from my classes. I sought help from my financial aid officer and the Kaplan Review board I informed them of the situation and they did a little more digging. When they got back to me they told me that the Department of Education had reported that they sent $700 more than they were authorized to. To make a long story short, the $808 dollars I paid to Kaplan should have gone to the Dept. of Ed. I asked the financial aid officer, "If you give me back the $808 and if I pay that to the Department of Ed will that clear up the issue?" They told me they would try to approve the refund, and to this day they are still trying to approve the refund. My online classes have started last Wednesday.

    I told them if they can't find a way to help me find a solution I will have to go to another school. I gave them a few days to deal with it and to get back to me. Their response is to go ahead and withdraw. However, they are going to charge me a $2500 withdrawal penalty. According to the Department of Education the Kaplan has a 33% retention rate. Be warned, they don't care if you come or go, they are going to get paid.